Batang Pier prime up properly for first powerful check

ANTIPOLO—NorthPort’s 2-0 begin within the Philippine Basketball Affiliation (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup could appear to be a rarity given its standing as a middle-of-the-pack crew at greatest.

However Sunday’s 113-103 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at Ynares Heart right here marked the primary since final season’s Philippine Cup that the Batang Pier have began this fashion and Arvin Tolentino believes they’ll make good issues occur transferring ahead.

“Hopefully, we are able to sustain this momentum going into our subsequent recreation,” Tolentino mentioned after scoring a career-high 35 factors, capping it with a left-handed slam over Rain or Shine veteran Gabe Norwood within the waning moments.

The Batang Pier, nonetheless, may have their first huge check of the season-opening tourney on Friday at Good Araneta Coliseum in opposition to the Magnolia Hotshots, who had been enjoying the Phoenix Gas Masters at presstime.

A win will put NorthPort in a powerful place as among the many early contenders to make the eight-team playoffs. A loss, nonetheless, could carry again reminiscences of the tailspin the Batang Pier skilled in that Philippine Cup.

After that 2-0 begin, NorthPort would go on to lose six straight and eight of the final 9 afterward to be booted out of playoff competition with a 3-8 document regardless of the presence of Robert Bolick and Jamie Malonzo, who’re out of the crew now.

“It’s a troublesome project, however we are going to do our greatest,” Tolentino mentioned of the perennial contender Hotshots.

Reliable import

For NorthPort to keep away from an analogous nightmare, it’s going to want Tolentino to maintain his sturdy early-season type and for import Venky Jois to as soon as once more produce spectacular numbers just like the 30 factors, 17 rebounds and 7 assists he had in opposition to Rain or Shine.

“To be trustworthy, we didn’t come into the convention with any expectation,” Tolentino mentioned in Filipino. “We actually ready for the season and we dedicated ourselves to offer our greatest each recreation.

“We’ve Venky as import, and he’s a tremendous man with a superb angle. And I believe that’s the explanation why we’re 2-0 this convention.”

Joshua Munzon is another excuse for NorthPort’s early success as the previous No. 1 draft choose posted 15 factors, 4 rebounds and three assists. The previous Terrafirma mainstay struggled in the course of the latter a part of the earlier season after being acquired in a commerce.

Additionally key had been sophomore heart JM Calma and rookie Cade Flores, who has introduced vitality and physicality by way of two video games of his younger PBA profession.

On the flip facet, Rain or Shine is looking for methods to get out of a 0-2 begin after lacking rookie Keith Datu and falling behind by 19 at one level.

Import DaJuan Summers scored 32 factors, however the Elasto Painters fell brief regardless of one other comeback try within the fourth. INQ